How should rhododendrons be pruned to develop into a high-grade bonsai?

The rhododendrons bought many years ago have now mostly finished blooming. If any of them are still alive, then grab your pruning shears right now, and let us begin turning some ordinary potted rhododendrons into bonsai rhododendrons. Their ornamental value can be raised by several levels at once.

In Shandong, rhododendrons are a bit difficult to grow, since southern plants are somewhat affected by the northern climate. But once summer comes, they enter the growing season. This is the best time for shaping. If you don't have a rhododendron at home, you can go to a flower market and buy two pots; one pot costs only 5 yuan. In a single summer it can rise to a value of 50 yuan, or even higher!

Now I'll share my own experience. Since this is about creating a landscape design, pruning is the key. Many people may find landscape design troublesome, or say it's very difficult. Every shape is a kind of expression of one's own knowledge, life, and so on. To start with, we don't need to make it so troublesome; just imitate the pattern, and make a "down-the-mountain" bonsai. When pruning, it becomes very simple: you only need to make a few cuts, remove all the excess branches, and then pull down one of the branches, and that's enough.

After that, you can move the potted plant to a cool, ventilated place for normal care. Fertilizer and water must be kept up to let it grow quickly. During this period, prune the useless branches that grow too vigorously. Wait until autumn, then dig it out, and once brought indoors it will be a simple, natural bonsai.